Anti-Trump Petition To Cancel State Visit To The UK Receives Nearly 1.5 Million Signatures And Counting

Over One Million Brits Say Donald Trump Too ‘Vulgar’ To Meet the Queen

In the second most signed petition made to the British Parliament, U.K. citizens have asked their leaders to deny Trump the legitimacy of a state visit. And they certainly don’t want him anywhere near their Queen.

The petition has received over 1 million signatures as of Monday, which comes close to the record number signatures calling for a debate to hold a second referendum vote on whether or not to leave the European Union.

British lawmakers will decide Tuesday whether or not to debate the petition; petitions with more than 10,000 signatures require a response from the body, and 100,000 signatures are automatically considered for debate, according to the Washington Post.

Although the petition was initiated several months ago, the Muslim travel ban issued by Trump on Friday resulted in a surge of new signatures. The temporary ban prevented people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Even those with valid green cards and visas were detained or turned back from their scheduled flights.

The Washington Post provides a summary video via Reuters showing the response in the U.K., as well as other allies in Europe, to Trump’s Muslim travel ban.

British Prime Minister Theresa May held a joint press conference with Trump on Friday, before the ban was issued, and told press that Queen Elizabeth II invited the American president for an official state visit sometime this year. This is despite the fact that a year ago, Parliament fiercely debated on banning Trump entry into the U.K. at the time for his anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim hate speech. Even conservatives denounced the then-candidate, although an outright ban was never issued.

The Brits aren’t having it, however. Graham Guest of Leeds told The Independent that he launched the petition because he felt Trump would embarrass the queen. Mr. Guest did not want the Queen to have to shake Trump’s hand, and believes that he should not get the opportunity to “bask in the Queen’s reflective glory.”

The 42-year-old British citizen initially said he wasn’t particularly concerned about Trump visiting his country as president, but given his record of “misogyny and vulgarity,” he believes that Trump would embarrass his monarch. The man also believes that appearing in an official capacity will lend Trump an air of credibility that he doesn’t deserve.

In light of the new Muslim travel ban into the U.S. issued by Trump on Friday, Mr. Guest now believes that Trump should not be allowed to enter the country at all. Guest told the Independent:

“It’s added a new dimension to things and until that ban is lifted I don’t think he should come to the country at all in any capacity.”

Most of all, he doesn’t believe Trump should be permitted into the presence of his queen.

“Obviously she’s well respected and I didn’t want him using photo opportunities from that in his re-election campaign. I mean, if he’s photographed stood next to the Queen, it makes him look like a statesman, which of course he’s not.”

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is in accord with Guest, although for completely different reason.

“I think we need to find out exactly what his intentions are and how much the U.S. parliamentary system is actually going to protect fundamental rights and freedoms and laws.”

He also criticized May for her seeming endorsement of the Trump administration.

“Is it really right to endorse somebody who has used this awful misogynist language throughout the election campaign, awful attacks on Muslims and then this absurd idea of building a wall with their nearest neighbour?”

Corbyn also posted his disapproval of the Muslim travel ban on Twitter, sharing a link to the petition with his many followers and directing his message at the Prime Minister.

“Over 1 million people have signed. @theresa_may we will not back down, cancel state visit and condemn the #Muslimban”